Ciao Zipper! The Italian F-104 Starfighter Stories and Photos

The “Zipper” (“Spillone”, as the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter is affectionately called by Italians, like a “Big Pin”) has been an intriguing and intense experience for over three generations of Italian pilots. The charm and unique sensations evoked by this aircraft have remained indelible over time. The aircraft has captivated both the pilots who flew it - many of whom are still in love with it today - and the many aviation enthusiasts and professionals who over the years have had the opportunity to work with this fantastic machine.

Also known as “the missile with a man in it” with its sleek aerodynamic line, it has always been admired for its elegance, narrow and thin blade-like wings, and the powerful roar of its engine: a combination capable of offering a truly unparalleled spectacle. Its extraordinary acceleration and climb capabilities make this fighter jet - seventy years after its design - still a high- performing and unique aircraft. From pilots, who navigated its sleek frame through the heavens to ground personnel, who meticulously tended to its every detail, the F-104 left an indelible mark on all who encountered it.

Spanning over four decades of operational prowess in Italy, this aircraft remains a stirring emblem that continues to ignite the passion of aviation enthusiasts around the Globe. This volume offers a rich tapestry of exceptional imagery, firsthand accounts, fascinating anecdotes and true posthumous declaration of love, shared by those intimately involved with the “Icon of the sky”.